Chapter 2
It was early morning and the sun was shining radiantly. Legolas had been
preparing for the trip since dawn and had now nearly taken care of everything. He had
gathered the necessary food and filled up their water skins. He had even obtained a pair
of strong, tan packs to carry it all in. His quiver of arrows had been restocked and Gimli's
axe sharpened.
Now, the only thing Legolas had to do was wake Gimli. This was, to say the least,
not an easy task. Legolas let himself into Gimli's room and proceeded over to his bed.
Gimli still slept on in spite of his previous anticipation.
'Come on,' Legolas urged, 'it is time for our adventure.'
Gimli just grunted and rolled over.
'Gimli! Gimli! Your beard is on fire!!!' Legolas shouted at the comatose dwarf.
'Ahhh!! My beard! My beautiful beard! Put it out! Hurry! Don't just stand there!
'Put out my poor beard!' Gimli ranted insanely.
'Gimli. Gimli, look down.' Legolas said grinning.
''twas an awful trick to play on a poor defenseless dwarf such as myself,' Gimli
barked, trying to sound pitiful.
'Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!' Legolas was rolling in the floor.
Gimli scowled, 'what are you waiting for? We must be off on our adventure.
Quickly now!'
Legolas regained his composure and started out after Gimli, grabbing the packs
on his way.
The day was warm and the weather promising. They had picked the perfect time
to leave. Legolas had recently finished overseeing the townhouse's construction and
Gimli had chopped enough wood to last until next spring. The pair was to head
west, trekking through the Misty Mountains and veering north a bit, stopping at Rivendell
to replenish their stock of supplies and attend the autumn festival. From there they would
have a long trip through the open plains and then across the Brandywine River into
various glens and forests. Their entire expedition taking 50 fortnights and 3. In other
words, slightly over 2 years.
Gimli was all for a spontaneous departure, but Legolas was insightful enough to
have planned ahead. He had a schedule for the two. He knew how long it would take to
reach each leg of the journey. They would arrive at Rivendell in three fortnights, stay
two, and have reached the Lifeless Forest by 10 more. He approximated that it would
take nearly six addition fortnights to conquer the forest, and seven to reach the
Brandywine River. By 37, they would be in the Shriek Marshes. They would then
triumph over the marshes in 6, finally reaching their destination 10 fortnights later.
Legolas was very smart indeed to have made such planning. When Gimli was told
of the schedule by Legolas, he grunted knowingly saying, 'Oye, you are more
inexperienced than I thought. You know this plan won't work. There are bound to be
holdups and unexpected delays along the way.'
'Yes, my good friend, but I have also set aside a few extra weeks in case of
hindrances. So, all in all, we should arrive right on schedule,' Legolas explained astutely.
'Always the quick thinker, eh,' Gimli said appreciatively, 'now, what did you
pack? I think it is nearly supper time.'
'Ah, yes. I have brought plenty of dried meat, conie and venison. Also, plenty of
bread, my own special recipe. Legolas listed off.
'Ach, I won't be able to choke that lot down! Have you nothing but dry morsels to
get stuck in my throat?' Gimli asked throatily.
'Come now, Gimli,' Legolas replied, 'I also have plenty of vegetables, herbs, and
spices in which to make a stew. We will dine like kings.'
'And so we shall!' Gimli cried out exuberantly.
It was early morning and the sun was shining radiantly. Legolas had been
preparing for the trip since dawn and had now nearly taken care of everything. He had
gathered the necessary food and filled up their water skins. He had even obtained a pair
of strong, tan packs to carry it all in. His quiver of arrows had been restocked and Gimli's
axe sharpened.
Now, the only thing Legolas had to do was wake Gimli. This was, to say the least,
not an easy task. Legolas let himself into Gimli's room and proceeded over to his bed.
Gimli still slept on in spite of his previous anticipation.
'Come on,' Legolas urged, 'it is time for our adventure.'
Gimli just grunted and rolled over.
'Gimli! Gimli! Your beard is on fire!!!' Legolas shouted at the comatose dwarf.
'Ahhh!! My beard! My beautiful beard! Put it out! Hurry! Don't just stand there!
'Put out my poor beard!' Gimli ranted insanely.
'Gimli. Gimli, look down.' Legolas said grinning.
''twas an awful trick to play on a poor defenseless dwarf such as myself,' Gimli
barked, trying to sound pitiful.
'Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!' Legolas was rolling in the floor.
Gimli scowled, 'what are you waiting for? We must be off on our adventure.
Quickly now!'
Legolas regained his composure and started out after Gimli, grabbing the packs
on his way.
The day was warm and the weather promising. They had picked the perfect time
to leave. Legolas had recently finished overseeing the townhouse's construction and
Gimli had chopped enough wood to last until next spring. The pair was to head
west, trekking through the Misty Mountains and veering north a bit, stopping at Rivendell
to replenish their stock of supplies and attend the autumn festival. From there they would
have a long trip through the open plains and then across the Brandywine River into
various glens and forests. Their entire expedition taking 50 fortnights and 3. In other
words, slightly over 2 years.
Gimli was all for a spontaneous departure, but Legolas was insightful enough to
have planned ahead. He had a schedule for the two. He knew how long it would take to
reach each leg of the journey. They would arrive at Rivendell in three fortnights, stay
two, and have reached the Lifeless Forest by 10 more. He approximated that it would
take nearly six addition fortnights to conquer the forest, and seven to reach the
Brandywine River. By 37, they would be in the Shriek Marshes. They would then
triumph over the marshes in 6, finally reaching their destination 10 fortnights later.
Legolas was very smart indeed to have made such planning. When Gimli was told
of the schedule by Legolas, he grunted knowingly saying, 'Oye, you are more
inexperienced than I thought. You know this plan won't work. There are bound to be
holdups and unexpected delays along the way.'
'Yes, my good friend, but I have also set aside a few extra weeks in case of
hindrances. So, all in all, we should arrive right on schedule,' Legolas explained astutely.
'Always the quick thinker, eh,' Gimli said appreciatively, 'now, what did you
pack? I think it is nearly supper time.'
'Ah, yes. I have brought plenty of dried meat, conie and venison. Also, plenty of
bread, my own special recipe. Legolas listed off.
'Ach, I won't be able to choke that lot down! Have you nothing but dry morsels to
get stuck in my throat?' Gimli asked throatily.
'Come now, Gimli,' Legolas replied, 'I also have plenty of vegetables, herbs, and
spices in which to make a stew. We will dine like kings.'
'And so we shall!' Gimli cried out exuberantly.